Joseph l



O (No Model.) O J. LOOYOE I BOX TOE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. No. 288,944.Patented Nov. .20, 1883 N, PETERS. Pl'mo'ulhegnphlr. wa-min m D, C.

: to surround and cover the toe portion.

which is necessarily of fine quality of leather,

. of leather, whereby a saving in the upper will UNITED JOSEPH L. JOYCE,OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BOX-TOE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,944, dated NovemberApplication filed October 8, 1883., (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn L. J oven, of New Haven, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented new In1- provements inBox-Toes for Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following,when taken in connection wit-h accompanying drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side view of the toe portion of a boot or shoe, showing myimprovement; Fig. 2, a vertical central section of the same; Fig. 3, aperspective view of the toe-piece made as an independent article; Figs.4, 5, and 6, modifications.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of boots andshoes in which the toe is protected by an extra thickness, commonlycalled box-toes.

In the usual construction of this class of shoes the upper is made ofthe full extent, and so as Then over the toe portion an extra thicknessis applied, stitched across the toe, and turned under with the upper.The outer thickness overlies the upper and increases the extent of thetoe p ortion of the shoe beyond the surface of the upper, giving to thetoe portion a clumsy appearance. The edge, as well as the whole toeportion, is exposed to severe wear and soon breaks. Again, boxing addsconsiderably to the expense of the shoe, for the reason that the upper,

must extend entirely over the toe beneath the cap or boxing.

The object of my invention is to produce the toe portion of the shoefrom a single thickness be made, the toe strongerthan. in the usualconstruction, and avoid the difficulties generally which are experiencedwith this class of toes; and the invention consists in a toe-piecehaving its rear edge recessed to receive the edge of the upper, which isout off at the toeline, the upper and toe-piece stitched together, andso as to form substantially a continuous smooth surface from the upperdown over the toe-piece, as more fully hereinafter described.

A. represents the toe-piece, which is best made from leather of two orthree times the thickness of the upper. At its rear edge it is recessedto form a shoulder, a, in depth corresponding substantially to thethickness of the upper B, and upon the under side the toe-piece ischamfered, as at b,- or the chamfering may be upon the upper side, andthe under side turned upward to bring the upper surface into a planecorresponding to the under side of the upper, as seen in Fig. 2. Thistoe-piece may be struck up in dies into the required shape, as seen inFig. 2, leaving a portion, (1, around its lower edge for attachment tothe sole; or it may be made flat, as seen in Fig. 4, and the upper outto fit theshoulder, and stitched thereto, as indicated in Fig. 4, and soas to leave the surface of the upper and the surface of the toepiecesubstantially in a continuous plane or flush surface, as seen in Figs. 1and 2.

In cutting the boot or shoe the upper is cut short of the full extent ofthe foot portion, corresponding to the toe-piece from the shoulder aforward; hence a great-saving is made in cutting the uppers, not only insaving of material in each individual shoe, but because the upper may becut from a less extent of material, and thereby avoid defects in theleather, which would destroy a large portion were it not for such shortcutting. The toe-pieces may be made from scraps of thicker leather, suchas produced by various manufactories employing a thicker grade ofleather.

In lasting the shoe a considerable saving is made, for the reason thatin the usual construction, where there is an overlying cap, the uppermust first be smoothly lasted around the toe, and then the cap or boxingpiece drawn smoothly over it. In the case of a struck-up toe-piece,lasting around the toe is almost entirely saved, as the toe-piece atonce fits the last; orif made, as in Fig. 4,110 be lasted, then there isonly a single thickness to work over the toe, instead of twothicknesses, as in the usual construction.

Another advantage of this construction is that in making the toe-pieceas I have described it is much stronger and firmer than can be made inthe use of the two thicknesses, and is not liable to injury by wear,first, because the edge is not exposed, and, second, because of itsthickness it is more durable.-

In some cases it may be desirable to cover the box portion A with adifferent leather, as patent-leather. In that case the covering leatherD is placed upon the boxing and struck or Worked down with the thickeror boxing portion to form the shoulder a, to receive the upper, as seenin'Fig. 5.

The box-toe portion A, struck into the required shape, may be made as anarticle of manufacture and sold to shoe-manufacturers to be applied.

In case of that class of shoes in which the uppers are made from thickleather, the recess and shoulder may be made on the upper, and thetoe-piece lapped onto the upper against the shoulder, so as to bring thesurface of the two flush, as seen in Fig. 6.

I am aware that box-toes have been made from thick leather, and theupper cut off for attachment to such thick toe, and thereforedo notclaim, broadly, a thick leather or material box-toe for boots and shoes.

I claim 1. The herein-described improvement in boX-toed shoes,consisting in the toe-piece and upper cut in separate parts, the onepart constructed With a recess upon the outside to form a shoulder, a,the other lapped onto said recessed portion and against the shoulder tobring the surface of the toe-piece and upper flush upon the outside,substantially as described.

2. A box-toe for boots and shoes, struck into shape from leather, andconstructed with a re cess and shoulder, a, across its upper edge,substantially as described.

.TOS. L. JOYCE. Vitnesses:

.Tos. G. EARLE, J. H. SHUMWAY.

